With 32 years of experience in plastic surgery and clinics in Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo, Dr. Manuel Sanmiguel is one of the leading figures in his specialty in northern Mexico. Two years ago, he incorporated a Biobarica hyperbaric chamber into his practice — and today he speaks with hard data about what that meant: better clinical outcomes, faster recoveries, and a direct impact on his practice's profitability.

 

We interviewed him at the AMCPER Plastic Surgery Congress at Expo Santa Fe in Mexico City, and this is what he told us.

 

A Protocol That Leaves No Room for Exceptions

 

When we asked how he had integrated hyperbaric therapy into his care workflow, his answer was clear and direct: virtually all of his patients receive it.

Even more striking is his timing protocol: three sessions prior to surgery, with the third session taking place on the morning of the procedure at 6:00 a.m., followed by an additional session after the surgery. A design aimed at preparing the tissue before the intervention and accelerating the biological response from the very first moment.

 

Results That Speak for Themselves

 

After two years of systematic use, Dr. Sanmiguel identifies three clinical impacts that define his experience with hyperbaric medicine:

 

1. Faster recoveries. His patients become active sooner, reduce their rest period, and return to their daily lives in noticeably shorter timeframes.
2. Accelerated drain removal. In post-bariatric patients, the difference is particularly visible. Without the chamber, drains were typically removed around day 15; with the hyperbaric protocol, that timeline is reduced to 5 days.
3. Reduced edema in rhinoplasties. One of the most valued benefits for both physician and patient, given that post-operative swelling is one of the main sources of anxiety and dissatisfaction in nasal surgery.

 

"They are two completely different patients," the doctor summarized when comparing the evolution of the same person operated on before and after incorporating the hyperbaric chamber into his protocol.

 

The Biology Behind the Results

 

From a physiological standpoint, the effects described by Dr. Sanmiguel are firmly grounded in the scientific evidence supporting hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

 

• Angiogenesis: formation of new blood vessels that improve irrigation of operated tissues.

• Stimulation of collagen synthesis: essential for higher-quality, faster healing.

• Reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory response: directly linked to the decrease in post-operative edema.

• Bactericidal effect: particularly relevant in post-operative cases at risk of infection.

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These mechanisms are not exclusive to plastic surgery. "It has many applications, obviously. I try to focus on my own specialty and even then I can't keep up with demand," the doctor acknowledged — referring to the growing number of colleagues from other specialties who refer patients to his clinic precisely because he has the equipment.

 

Beyond the surgical schedule: Scaling medical center operations

 

Beyond clinical outcomes, Dr. Sanmiguel emphasized something of particular interest to physicians evaluating the investment: the hyperbaric chamber generates revenue autonomously.

 

"You don't have to be there for the system to make you money," he noted. The equipment can be operated by a trained technician, receive referrals from colleagues, and diversify the clinic's revenue streams without depending on the surgeon's own operating schedule.

 

This aligns perfectly with the concept Biobarica brings to its clients: the 7 most profitable square meters in your practice. With minimal installation requirements — air conditioning, two electrical outlets, and one operator per three units — the Revitalair hyperbaric chamber becomes a standalone business unit within the medical center itself.

 

"We need to focus not only on learning how to operate, but on how to achieve shorter recoveries, less edema, and get patients back on their feet as soon as possible," the doctor explained.

 

A Message for Those About to Take the Step

 

In the final part of the interview, we asked what he would say to colleagues who are still on the fence. His answer combined clinical conviction with business vision:

 

"Hyperbaric medicine is the medicine of the 21st century, and we can't afford to keep offering only good surgical techniques without anything to complement them in the post-operative period."

 

And he closed with a statement that sums up his 32 years in practice: among all the purchases he has made throughout his career, the two that have delivered the greatest return are the liposuctor — the workhorse of his specialty — and the hyperbaric chamber.

 

Watch the full interview here.

 

Want to Know if a Hyperbaric Chamber Is Right for Your Practice?

 

At Biobarica, we support more than 2,000 physicians across more than 50 countries who have already integrated hyperbaric therapy into their practice. Our equipment holds international certifications (FDA, CE, ANMAT, COFEPRIS, among others), and we offer technical support, training, and management tools through the BGS.

 

If you're considering taking the next step, contact our team and we'll help you evaluate the best solution for your center.